My voice sounds small, even to my own ears.
Tyler, Tuck’s father, used to joke I had ice water running through my veins. In those days, my assignments often took me to some of the most dangerous places in the world, and I wouldn’t even blink. Not much would faze me back then, but the idea of my baby in the hospital has me almost paralyzed with fear.
A surprisingly warm hand covers my own cold ones.
“I’m not gonna lie, he was in pretty bad shape when we pulled him out, but by the time he was loaded in the ambulance he was breathing on his own and his pulse was strong.”
I bite my lips shut to contain the sob trying to escape and focus my eyes on the city streets whipping by outside the window. Finally, I take in a few deep breaths through my nose until I trust myself to speak.
“Is he going to be okay?”
I look at his profile.
“He’s likely suffering from hypothermia and shock, but he’s in the best possible hands. I’m sure there’ll be better answers when we get to Mercy.”
He darts a glance my way and I nod woodenly as the first hot tear rolls down my cheek.
“Are we going for ice cream?” comes from the back seat. “I’m hungry.”
“We’re going to see Tucker, Pops.”
“Tucker?”
“Yes. He’s in the hospital, but I’ll find you something to eat when we get there.”
“I want ice cream,” he snaps.
My father has developed a serious sweet tooth recently. Something we’re trying to curb but it doesn’t seem to help. He wants what he wants and these days has no patience to wait.
“Bruce?” Bodhi looks in the rearview mirror as he addresses him. “What’s your favorite chocolate bar?”
“Snickers,” is his quick response.
“Mine too. How about I score us some Snickers bars from the vending machine when we get to the hospital?” Bodhi offers.
“I like Snickers,” Pops repeats.
“Yeah, I do too.”
When the back seat stays silent, Bodhi turns his head my way and shoots me a quick wink.
Bodhi
I’m itching to push her on the bruising on her face, but although I have a sneaky suspicion, this isn’t the right time. Nor is it really my place.
She wasn’t exactly lying when she mentioned her life was chaos. At the time I didn’t know she had a teenage son. As if a father with dementia wasn’t enough of a challenge, now she has a child in serious condition in the hospital.
Cap had been about to send Hog to her house when I explained I met her a few weeks ago, and it might be less threatening if she saw a familiar face. He agreed, although it wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t. One of the patrol cars, that had arrived on scene in the meantime, had dropped me off at the station so I could grab my own vehicle, and I rushed over to her place.
When we get to Mercy, we find Vic in the waiting room and the sisters hug each other tightly. She’s able to tell us Tucker is stable but as yet unresponsive, and ER staff is working on getting his core temperature up and running some tests.
Leaving them to talk, I walk over to the vending machines in the corner and thank my lucky stars one of them holds Bruce’s preferred chocolate bar. My offering earns a grunt from the old man, but he doesn’t hesitate to rip the wrapper off. He’s distracted, for now, but from what I remember that can change on a dime. The last thing the sisters need right now is to deal with that.
“I’ve got to step out, I’ll just be a minute,” I announce before slipping out the door.
I cross the lobby and head outside where I make a quick call.
“Beacham.”
“Cap, it’s me.”
“How’s the kid?” he asks right away.
“Stable for now but they’re still working on him. We’re waiting for news.”
“Fingers crossed. The other two were lucky, although they may not think so after getting dropped off at home in the middle of the night by a police officer.”
I vividly remember a few times I lived through a similar scenario. I was a tad adventurous in my younger years. It hadn’t surprised my parents at all when I ended up with the fire department.
“Probably not.”
“So are you on your way back?” he wants to know.
“Yeah, about that…Vic and her sister look after their father. He has dementia and we had to bring him along. It’s not an ideal situation.”
“Damn, Roadkill. That’s a tough one, but we’re shorthanded as it is and it’s a goddamn full moon out there. You know what that means.”
Whether there’s any correlation or not, things tend to get busy on nights like this.
“I get it. Can you give me half an hour?”
He agrees and I quickly dial another number.
“Bodhi? What’s wrong?” my father immediately asks when he answers the phone.
I wince. Getting a call in the middle of the night when your son is a firefighter is never a fun experience.
“I’m fine, Dad. Is Mom there?”
I spend the next few minutes explaining the situation to them before returning to the waiting room.
“You need to get back, right?” Vic observes when I walk in.
“Soon, but I’m hoping I can bring the boys some good news.”
I’m addressing Vic but I’m looking at her sister. She doesn’t see me though; her eyes are locked on the door to the ER. I sit down on the edge of the coffee table in front of her and take one of her hands in mine.
Ice cold.
“Katrina…can I get you anything? Water? A coffee? I’m pretty sure the stuff that comes out of those machines is only slightly more palatable than motor oil, but at least it’s hot.”
The small smile tugging at those plump lips is mostly involuntary as she shifts her gaze to me for a moment.
“I’m good. Thanks. Oh, and thank you for picking us up.”
“Of course.”
I smile back and switch to the free seat beside her but keep hold of her hand. Vic doesn’t appear to notice, she’s too busy studying her sister closely.
“What happened to you?”
The question seems to startle Trin and she quickly pulls her hand from mine, immediately bringing it up to cover the bruise on her face.
“I…uh…” She darts a glance at her dad, who is now watching her carefully as well. “Kitchen cupboard. I’ll tell you later.”
It’s clear Vic isn’t buying it but the tense moment is broken when the door swings open and my mother walks in. I get up to greet her with a kiss on the cheek.
“This is my mom, Nira,” I explain. “And, Mom, meet Victoria and Katrina, and this is their father, Bruce.”
She nods at the sisters before focusing her attention on the older man. In no time she engages him in conversation and I turn to the women.
“What’s your mom doing here?” Vic asks under her breath.
“I have to get back to the station but thought you might need a hand.”
“Bodhi’s mom took care of his grandma, who had dementia,” Trin clarifies.
I turn around at the sound of her voice, surprised she remembered that.
Vic clears her throat behind me.